The RFU have praised Redruth‘s handling of an incident of suspected racial abuse which involved a visiting black player being jeered by a minority of […]
Latest Posts
Booming attendances for Premiership
Premiership Rugby revealed today that there has been a 14.2% rise in attendances year-on-year to an average of 11,950 over the first six rounds of […]
Warriors land Crusaders flyer
Glasgow Warriors have today pulled off another major signing coup, landing Canterbury Crusaders flyer Sean Maitland, subject to medical and visa. The 24-year-old, who follows […]
Stephen Jones set for golden thankyou from Wales
Stephen Jones is to be granted a testimonial by the Welsh Rugby Union in recognition of his status as their most-capped international. The 34-year-old Welsh […]
Bedford Blues’ attacking style pays off for Ben Ransom
Ben Ransom says there is no better place to be than Bedford Blues as he awaits his Saracens first-team chance. Full-back Ranson, 20, who has […]
Dussautoir blow for France
France have been dealt a huge blow as captain Thierry Dusautoir will miss the November Test series with a knee injury. The flanker suffered a […]
Tigers roar again with superb win over Ospreys
Three tries in a frantic last ten minutes helped Leicester to a crucial 39-22 bonus-point win over the Ospreys at Welford Road. The game was […]
Room 101: Nick Mullins – ESPN lead commentator
1. The man who abolished proper tours We all know why good, old-fashioned tours became the kind of historical footnotes you only find these days […]
Jonny’s boots hand Toulon vital away win in Cardiff
A second half try from Steffon Armitage and a kicking lesson from Jonny Wilkinson helped Toulon to their second win in as many games to […]
Nick Cain looks at the TV sub-plot beneath this season’s Heineken Cup
If the English clubs want clout when it comes to the future of the European Cup, as in bargaining power, then this is a season […]
Young Gun: Scott Wilson – Newcastle Prop
When London 2012 Olympian Lawrence Okoye hit the headlines for opting to remain in the discus circle rather than a rugby backline last week it […]
Jeremy Guscott: The Toulouse test will show Tigers where they stand
There’s been a lot of talk about the BT Vision contract signed by the Premiership clubs, and a potential English and French clubs breakaway. That’s […]
Patient Ulster get the goods in rainy Glasgow
A second half try from flanker Chris Henry helped Ulster to a 19-8 win over Glasgow to put the Irish in control of their pool […]
20 Questions: Nick Abendanon – Bath full-back
Pleased with your form this season? Pretty pleased. Coming off the back of scoring a hat-trick for England‘s mid- week side in South Africa was […]
“It will be hard but we’re a different team now,” – Chris Robshaw
Tomorrow, Harlequins are travelling back to Galway to face Connacht, the exact same place their dream of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals got away last […]
Heineken Cup round 2: preview and predictions
Pool 1 Munster v Edinburgh Munster will be disappointed they did not close the game out last Racing Metro last week, conceding two late penalties. […]
Amlin Challenge Cup round 2: preview and predictions
Dragons v Bayonne Tonderai Chavhanga returns for the Dragons as they face Bayonne following their defeat at Wasps last week. The former Springbok returns on […]
“We can’t afford to go backwards now, “ – Sailosi Tagicakibau
London Irish will look to build on their bonus point win over Bordeaux-Begles last week when they take on Mont de Marsan tomorrow at the […]
Nick Cain: Jonny for the Lions? His form says Yes
Jonny Wilkinson’s statement this week that there’s no way he could say no to an invitation to be part of the 2013 Lions touring party […]
Geordan Murphy is still the role model for Leicester’s Niall Morris
Niall Morris has no doubt about his place in the full-back pecking order at Leicester: ‘Geordan Murphy is still Number One.’ Like last season, when […]
Gloucester get the five points but worry over injuries
Four first half tries handed Gloucester a 25-13 bonus-point win over Bordeaux-Begles at Kingsholm tonight. However, the game may be costly for the Cherry and […]
My Life in Rugby: Tom Voyce – former Wasps, Gloucester and England wing
I played a lot of finals at Wasps but the game that I remember most vividly was when we beat Munster away at Lansdowne Road. […]
Mealamu to get 100th All Black cap
New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu will become the third All Black to win 100 Test caps as New Zealand travel to Brisbane to face Australia. […]
Peter Jackson: Be positive Danny, and learn from Mad Dog
Danny Lydiate may have spent most of the week in hospital but he is still a long way from matching the medical record of the […]
“Let’s keep the momentum before the Premiership resumes,” – Jim Hamilton
Gloucester host Bordeaux-Begles tonight in a bid to keep the pressure on London Irish at the top of their Amlin Cup group. For captain Jim […]
Missile Joe Launchbury is for lift-off, says Wasps head coach Dai Young
Joe Launchbury is not one for the future, according to Wasps chief Dai Young, because the flanker-cum-lock has arrived already! Young, looking back to Launchbury’s […]
Neck injury forces Richard Birkett to retire
London Wasps lock Richard Birkett has been forced to retire from rugby as a result of a neck injury. The 33-year-old, who made over 250 […]
Dream Team: Will Green – Former Wasps, Leinster and England prop
1. Craig Dowd – I’m picking Craig purely because he can squat while standing on a tennis ball one-legged. He’s amazingly agile for someone of […]
Jeff Probyn: Team GB face so many problems on road to Rio
When I first read Clive Woodward’s call for the 2016 Team GB Sevens squad to be playing together for two years before the event, I […]
Rob Cook makes up for lost time with Mike Tindall help at Gloucester
Gloucester full-back Rob Cook has waited a lifetime to get his chance at the top level of elite sport and now he is enlisting Mike […]
Andy Hazell cited following Amlin Cup red card
Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell will appear before an ERC disciplinary hearing following the red card he received against Mont de Marsan last Thursday. Hazell was […]
Ospreys signs international front row
The Ospreys have signed Moldovan international front row Dimitri Arhipa in a bid to increase their front row options ahead of the November Tests. 23-year-old […]
France call on rising star for November Tests
Philippe Saint-Andre has included Toulouse rising star Gael Fickou in his 33-man squad ahead of the November Test series. 18-year-old Fickou has been the start […]
Baa-Baas welcome Dean Richards back as coach
Dean Richards has been short-listed for a return to the big stage as coach of the Barbarians. The renowned touring club approached him last week […]
Room 101: Mark Nelson – Fylde head-coach
1. 1996 (the Game going ‘open’) It didn’t take long for me to feel the negative effects of professionalism. Fresh from the RFU‘s big announcement […]
Lions greatest XV: Fergus Slattery (1974) – openside
There is a body of opinion that the role of the openside flanker has changed significantly in the 41 years since The 1971 Lions Tour, […]
Nick Cain looks at the lack of back-up for Stuart Lancaster’s penalty takers
When there is enough footage of goal-kickers winning big matches to pave the M4 corridor between Twickenham and the Millennium Stadium, it seems strange that […]
Young Gun: Ben Howard – Worcester full-back
Ben Howard has not followed the traditional path into the international ranks having failed to even make a Midlands representative team two seasons ago. Fresh […]
Jeremy Guscott: Sharples injury jinx may give Wade his chance
With Ben Foden’s injury more serious than first thought, Stuart Lancaster has said he will be seeking a back three replacement for the autumn internationals. […]
Ulster leave it late but Ruan Pienaar secures the five points
Ulster had to wait until the third minute of stoppage time and a try from Springbok Ruan Pienaar to secure a 41-17 bonus-point win over […]
20 Questions: Dean Schofield – Worcester lock
Hectic summer for you? I’ve had a few plates spinning since arriving from Toulon, with getting settled down, a baby on the way and trying […]
“Warren Gatland must hold his nerve over Lions team,” says Ian McGeechan
In an era when even the finest rugby coaches have a drastically short shelf-life, Sir Ian McGeechan’s longevity of service with the Lions – the […]
Heineken Cup round 1: preview and predictions
Pool 1 Edinburgh v Saracens Edinburgh make six changes to their starting line-up to take on Saracens at Murrayfield. Internationals Tom Brown and Richie Rees […]
Amlin Challenge Cup round 1: preview and predictions
Bordeaux-Begles v London Irish Guy Armitage and Chris Hala’ufia will both start their first matches’ of the season as London Irish begin their Amlin Challenge […]
“Last week was a major boost but let’s be consistent now,” says Topsy Ojo
On paper, London Irish are one of the most threatening team in the Premiership. On the pitch however, the Exiles have struggled after seeing a […]
Nick Cain: This waste of George Ford’s talent is so senseless
There are imperfections in most rugby structures, but, when it comes to getting the right outcome for the national team, England‘s stick out like a […]
Andy’s new attitude means he’s coming Goode for the Worcester Warriors
In recent times rugby‘s version of the Goode life has all been about Alex, not Andy. While Saracens star Alex is being talked about as […]
Gloucester do the job in France but Andy Hazell faces lengthy ban
Fourteen-men Gloucester earned an ugly 11-6 win at Mont-de-Marsan in the opening game of the Amlin Challenge Cup. Ian Clark’s first half try was enough […]
My Life in Rugby: Duncan Bell – Lydney player/coach and former Bath and England prop
I have never been the best of losers and was always a bit sulky after a defeat but I don’t think my depression was ever […]
Brilliant Brian O’Driscoll is early charger for Lions place
Selecting a Lions team from the ranks of the Aviva Premiership and the RaboDirect Pro12 is a fraught business at this stage of the season. […]